My wife has trouble getting to sleep these days. I know we have more than a few members who have the same problem. Can anyone recommend a non-prescription sleep aid? No Ambien or anything like that, and not for use every day. I think if she could get one really good night's sleep a week, she'd be OK.

She tried melatonin and it was ineffective. Any ideas? Thanks

I have a friend that has trouble sleeping and uses Advil PM every once in a while when she needs sleep. It definitely helps her fall asleep not sure it helps through the entire night.

I've tried it with mixed results.

I believe it uses the same active med in Benadryl for the sleep aid portion.

Benadryl (generic) works for me. 50mg about 45 min before bed. I actually use it to keep pollen from making my eyes feel like sandpaper by morning, but it does work as a sleep aid.

My wife and I use ZzzQuill (it's Benadryl and the dosage is the same as two of their capsules).

Non-habit forming and helps me sleep as I have the WORST sinuses in the world (said the older than the hills VA doc many years ago).

Bob

ZzzQuil works pretty good, might be worth trying.

https://www.amazon.com/Vicks-Z...d=1716935218&sr=8-10

CBN gummies have been working fairly well for me.

Magnesium glycinate works great for me. I bought a huge stock of the Calm brand with lavender and lemon awhile back after I had tried it out and found that it worked. You may have to shop around a bit as it looks like a lot of places are "out of stock" (though there are other combinations/flavors).

I'd stay away from anything with benadryl. While it'll work, it stays on board for a good long time, leaving a hangover.

I've also had decent luck with chamomile and valerian teas.

My sister swears by THC gummies, but she's a hippie communist, so there's that.

If she takes a 24 hour antihistamine, move it from morning to bedtime. Then also at bedtime take 200 mg of L-theanine and 500 mg of Ashwagandha. Musicozy headphones and a Lina Grace playlist also help me.

I know it’s a lot but the best advice is to stop eating inflammatory food/drink, be active and expend energy during the day, and use “headspace” phone app.

I know you specified otherwise, 1/4 mg Xanax acts fast and not enough to have trouble with. A half hour before lights out, zzz.

I've never had anything like a hangover with Benadryl, nor has my wife. I have no difficulty taking ZzzQuill at about 8:30-9PM, going to bed half an hour or so later, and getting up about 5-7AM depending on what the day holds for me. My wife is almost always out of bed by 7AM.

Perhaps the hangover Gustofer speaks of affects only some people?

Edited: My medical source (wife), says yes, it does affect some people just as Gustofer said, and about the only thing to do is try a couple Benadryls in the evening and see how one feels the next morning.

Bob

It's not medication, but YouTube has numerous rain, white noise, and even B-52 sounds that will play with a completely black screen. I used to use my phone, but I bought a new TV for bedroom and use that now because it has a sleep timer, and if I forget to set it, the TV turns off at 2:00 by itself (through settings, not cursed).

quote:

a non-prescription sleep aid? No Ambien or anything like that, and not for use every day...

She tried melatonin and it was ineffective. Any ideas?

Anything with "PM" in its name will have a 1st gen antihistamine in it, and the most common one is diphenhydramine (which is generic for Benadryl). Just to help you sleep only, take diphenhydramine only and not any of the other unnecessary ingredients. As with any meds, different folks respond differently to it. Some folks experience lingering tiredness and even achiness the next day. Other folks, like Bob and his wife above, experience none of that. Even others get no help to sleep at all. Worst case scenario is an allergic reaction from Benadryl, ironically, as the med is supposed to help combat allergy.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Benadryl (generic) works for me. 50mg about 45 min before bed. I actually use it to keep pollen from making my eyes feel like sandpaper by morning, but it does work as a sleep aid.

I think it depends on the person. It's actually the opposite for me - Benadryl makes my heart race and keeps me awake.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
I think it depends on the person. It's actually the opposite for me - Benadryl makes my heart race and keeps me awake.

Right. Benadryl works as intended for most folks. You're just one of the unfortunate ones that it has the opposite effect on.

Benadryl is the only thing that works for me.

Well in Texas they sell some sleep aid gummies with thc in them that worked really well but due to having to take the pee test twice a year those are off the table for me. But they sure worked good!

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Benadryl (generic) works for me. 50mg about 45 min before bed. I actually use it to keep pollen from making my eyes feel like sandpaper by morning, but it does work as a sleep aid.

I think it depends on the person. It's actually the opposite for me - Benadryl makes my heart race and keeps me awake.

I would agree. Benadryl has no effect either way as far as awakeness is concerned. (It did when I first began taking it in my youth, making me quite sleepy. If I were to stop taking it for an extended period of time, and then resume, it would once again have a sedative effect.)

quote:

Originally posted by cheeze:
I know it’s a lot but the best advice is to stop eating inflammatory food/drink

That works 100% the opposite on me.

Magnesium works for me. Right to sleep every night.

Another vote for ZZZquill. I use more than the suggested amount. If you take a couple Motrin or asprin, with the Zzzquill, it works even better.

If you already take Gabapentin (check spelling). Take it about 45 minutes before you take the Zzzquill. I am confident you will fall asleep quickly.